Why do I have a dodgy file system?

[Kerry Hoath]

Badblocks has a non-destructive read/write mode to test blocks without 
loosing your data. See the docs for details.
Problem is that a failing drive will often die completely once you point 
badblocks at it so user beware.

Better to use smartmontools to check drive health like this:

smartctl -a /dev/sda|less

You can do this on a running system or from a grml boot disk.

Regards, Kerry.
On 18/07/2012 12:07 PM, D. Curtis Willoughby wrote:
> The definitive test of a disk drive is the badblocks program.
> I usually use the -v and -w options.  It will destroy everything
> on the disk, but when it is done, you will know if the drive
> is good or bad.  It is easy if you are not using it on the
> disk that does not contain the root file system.
>
> badblocks -vw /dev/sdb, or whatever.
>
> It is a little more tricky if there is only one disk.  In that
> case, boot from an install disk; go through the steps up through
> sensing disks skipping the network steps; then execute a shell;
>
> then do badblocks -vw /dev/sda
>
> You may wish to save the output in a file, or maybe even mount
> a usb stick and save it on that.
>
>
> You may need the following boot parameters:
>
> speakup.synth=ltlk debconf/priority=medium graphics=no
>
> This is also a delightful way to fix anything that isgiving you
> trouble about a disk containing windows
>
> D. Curtis Willoughby
>
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